From Hjørundfjord through Geirangerfjord
Norway: Hiking Alesund and the Sunnmore Alps
Overview
The snow-capped Sunnmøre Alps rise thousands of feet above the cobalt waters of Hjørundfjord, one of the hidden gems of this nature-blessed part of Norway. This region is where deep fjords meet jagged peaks, where the quaint meets the dramatic, and where the hikes are challenging—but with high reward. We'll explore the trails of Hjørundfjord as well as UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord for panoramas of the fjord's soaring 5,000-foot high walls. We'll also explore the waterways by private boat, visiting villages, and along the way, learn about Norway's rural traditions as we are welcomed by families at their centuries-old farms. We begin and end in charming Alesund, a city set on small islands in the Atlantic.
Arrive: Ålesund, Norway
Depart: Ålesund, Norway
Highlights
- Hike gorgeous trails both at water level and on high ridgelines with breathtaking views of fjords and waterfalls
- Savor eye-popping panoramas over UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and the Seven Sisters Waterfall
- Enjoy cultural experiences every day, including warm welcomes from local farm families
Itinerary
Arrive in Ålesund, with its unique fjord setting. Our kayak excursion brings unique perspectives of Ålesund as we paddle through the city’s canals. Journeying through steep-walled Hjørundfjord, we visit a farm family at Trandal for lunch and enjoy the first of our spectacular ridge hikes, with breathtaking views in all directions of Hjørundfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.
From Loen, a small village tucked away in the inner Nordfjord region below the mighty Jostedalsbreen Glacier, we take an easy hike past alpine lakes. The next day, a cable car carries us 3,000 feet up from the fjord to the top of Mt. Hoven (in just five minutes!), with grand panoramas along the way. At the top, we'll enjoy a hike up to the peak called Staurinibba. Our dinner in this “top of the world” setting is at the clifftop Hoven Restaurant, a prime spot for sunset viewing.
Today's hike in Geirangerfjord is one of the most scenic in all of Norway, with views stretching from the fjord's soaring 5,000-foot-high walls across to the lacy Seven Sisters Waterfall on the other side of the fjord—it's a photographer's dream. The next day, after a guided tour of the excellent Norwegian Fjord Centre Museum, we hike through a narrow valley with stellar views of waterfalls and towering granite mountains, with lunch at a lovely farm.
Expansive vistas of the entire bend of mighty Geirangerfjord are all around us as we hike up to the peak of Geitfonnegga. The next day, we hike high above historic farmsteads for views into hidden Tafjord, an unspoiled UNESCO-listed fjord. Depart Day 10 from Ålesund.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. It is aimed at those who have some recent mountain hiking experience. You will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady hiking pace of the group.
Average Hiking Day
You must feel comfortable and confident being on the trail for 3-5 hours most days, with recent hiking experience at 5+ miles in a day. You carry just a daypack with the essentials: camera, water bottle, rain gear, and your packed lunch. Sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots are essential. Hiking poles are highly recommended. The daily pacing is flexible and may be adjusted by the Trip Leader. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times.
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 3-5 hours
- 5 miles
- 2,100 feet gain/loss
- Day 3: 5.5 hours, 5 miles, ascent 2,500 feet, descent 1,800 feet
You must feel comfortable and confident being on the trail for 3-5 hours most days, with recent hiking experience at 5+ miles in a day. You carry just a daypack with the essentials: camera, water bottle, rain gear, and your packed lunch. Sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots are essential. Hiking poles are highly recommended. The daily pacing is flexible and may be adjusted by the Trip Leader. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times.
While the Norwegian mountains are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged. The trails in Norway are kept very natural and not maintained beyond necessity. Trails can be uneven, with large rocks or loose scree. Norway is often rainy, so the rocks on the trail will be wet. There are some exposed roots along the way, and there will be muddy spots. You need good balance to be able to hike on these surfaces.
Temperatures should be in the mid-50s-60s, perfect for hiking. The weather can provide spectacular clear days but can also be very wet and changeable, and we want you to be well prepared for all you may encounter. Trip members need to remain flexible in consideration of inclement weather that may require changes, such as substituting different hiking routes, canceling hikes, or switching the days of certain hikes.
Some accommodations are in small, charming hotels and the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Please note that rooms in Scandinavia are smaller than in the US. We stay in two hotels that do not have separate beds, but we can request a comfortable cot for travelers who are sharing rooms but may not wish to share a king bed. Single occupancy rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single occupancy room, please make your request as early as possible.
Packed lunches on the trail will be enjoyed amid the beauty of the surrounding mountains, with two lunches served at local family farms. Most evening meals will be at our hotels. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often, the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
One of the nice features of this trip is how it takes advantage of taxis, vans, and even small private boats to transfer between locations and some of our hotel accommodations. This is a wonderful way to be immersed in Norway's beauty.
Client Testimonials
"The design of this trip was brilliant, with a great variety of hiking, kayaking, RIBing, etc. and very little time in a van (GREAT). Overall one of the best designed trips I have been on. Each day was a new adventure. This was the best trip I have had with WT."
Harold H.
London, Ontario
"This was an incredibly scenic trip. Each of the hotels offered something different and special, and the food was fantastic (seafood heaven!). The hikes were carefully chosen for variety, scenery, and lack of crowds."
Inge K.
Concord, MA
"Of four WT trips, this was by far my favorite. Excellent and challenging hikes; opportunities to be immersed in beautiful environments. Organization was excellent, with flexibility when changes were required or desired. Accommodations were excellent; meals were fantastic, whether at a hotel or a remote mountain farm. Minimal time in cars/buses/vans; maximum time hiking and exploring Norway!"
Kathleen F.
Fargo, ND
"Wow, it was one of the best trips ever. Excellent leaders, hikes, accommodations, food, and fellow clients. Everything just felt really well balanced overall—just enough down time, a nice mix of trail lunch days and restaurant lunch stops, etc."
Rob C.
Concord, MA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.